Butter-tree

Butter-tree (Bassia) is a genus of tropical or subtropical trees of the natural order Sapotaceæ (q.v.), remarkable for the abundance of oil or butyraceous fat which the seeds contain, and which is used for many purposes by the inhabitants of the countries where they are indigenous. The butter-tree described by Mungo Park as growing in the interior of Africa, in the country of Bambarra, belongs to this or a nearly allied genus. It produces the Galam Butter, also called Shea Butter (i.e. Tree Butter), which is highly valued, and forms an important article of internal commerce in the interior of Africa. The seeds of the fruit, which resembles an olive, are dried in the sun, or in a peculiar kind of oven, and the kernels are then boiled in water in order to obtain the butter from them, which not only keeps for a whole year without salt, but is also said to be whiter, more solid, and more pleasant to the taste than true butter. This butter is used both as an article of food and of medicine, and it would seem that the tree would reward cultivation in other tropical countries.—The Mahwa-tree of India (B. latifolia) attains a height of 40 to 60 feet, like a good oak in size, and is a valuable timber-tree. Its flowers last two or three weeks, and then fall; they are eaten raw, and have a luscious taste when fresh; when dry, they resemble figs in flavour. They are a valuable source of food, especially in the Central Provinces, and a kind of arrack or spirit is distilled from them. They may also be employed as a very abundant source of sugar. One tree may produce 800 lb. of flowers. The seeds of the apple-like fruit yield by expression a considerable quantity of a concrete greenish-yellow oil, which is used for soap-making and in lamps, and occasionally by the poorer classes for frying articles of food.—The Indian Butter-tree, or Phulwara or Fulwa Tree (B. butyracea), a native of Nepal, attains a height of 50 feet. Its timber is light and of no value. The fruit is of the size of a pigeon's egg, and although eaten, is not much esteemed; but from the seed a concrete oil or butter is obtained by expression of a delicate white colour, much valued for medicinal uses, and as an unguent, and employed also to adulterate ghee.—The seeds of B. longifolia, a native of Coromandel, yield a large quantity of oil, which is used for lamps, for soap-making, and in cookery. The flowers are much esteemed for eating, and the wood is almost as hard and durable as teak.—The name Butter-tree is also given to other tropical trees, belonging to quite different orders, the fruits of which yield fixed oils, having the appearance and used for the purposes of butter. Thus the butter-trees of Guiana and Brazil belong to the genus Caryocar (q.v.), of Ternstroemiaceæ. The Oil-palms (q.v.) and the Cocos butyracea (see COCOA-NUT) may also be regarded as butter-trees, although not generally receiving that name.